We all have types of characters that we gravitate towards in games. One ofBaldur’s Gate 3’s greatest strengths is how it is able to present a range of characters that slot into certain established archetypes while simultaneously providing those characters with depth and nuance. Shadowheart is a wonderful example of this. Naturally, this has led to her becoming a far favorite.
But you can only replay Baldur’s Gate 3 so many times before you start to yearn for a new experience. So, why not point out a few games that feature characters who bear a lot in common with Shadowheart? While none of these characters are likely to replace her, we think that you may find them to be compelling in similar ways. Worse case scenario, you could dip into these games in between Baldur’s Gate 3 replays. You know, mix it up a little.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
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One of the most critically acclaimed RPGs in recent history, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt sees Geralt searching for Ciri of Cintra. However, he’s not the only one looking — the pair must also contend with the Wild Hunt, supernatural beings of great power. CD Projekt added two expansion packs, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, and brought an enhanced version of the game to modern consoles in late 2022.
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If you are a big fan of Shadowheart, then you are likely a big fan of the relationship element itself. Given that angle, it probably doesn’t come as a surprise to any Witcher fans that Yennefer is on this list. For those who haven’t played Witcher 3 yet, let me set the table… Much like Ms. Shadowheart, Yennefer has a softness that she keeps concealed from others. And that’s not the only thing Yen conceals; she is, in general, a secretive lady.Yennefer isn’t above a little manipulation, either. Even when the person she is manipulating is the person she cares the most for.
The primary point of divergence is that Shadowheart has a certain fragility to her character; Yennefer does not. She can be emotionally vulnerable with Geralt of course, but truth be told, Yennefer is pretty well put-together. Though, if you haven’t played the Witcher 3, and you are big on Shadowheart, I think you’ll find that Yennefer and her are more alike than they are different.
Yakuza Kiwami
Back and better than ever, the Yakuza series has been updated for modern gamers to experience the action, fun, and coolness of Kiryu and cohorts.1995, Kamurocho… Kazuma Kiryu, the Dragon of Dojima, takes the fall for the murder of a crime boss to protect his sworn brother, Akira Nishikiyama, and his childhood friend, Yumi.2005… Akira Nishikiyama has become a changed man. Yumi is nowhere to be found. Ten billion yen has gone missing from the Tojo Clan’s coffers, putting the organization on the brink of civil war. And Kazuma Kiryu is released from prison to a world he no longer recognizes.With enhanced gameplay, an expanded cinematic story, the return of the battle styles from Yakuza 0, more nightlife spots, and re-recorded audio by the series cast, Yakuza Kiwami is the ultimate and most “extreme” version of the original vision of the series, now optimized for PC with 4K resolutions, uncapped frame rates, customizable controls and ultra-widescreen support.
This list is primarily filled with WRPGs where you can play as, or befriend, a character who has Shadowheart-like qualities. But what if Shadowheart was a Japanese man, and what if you weren’t traipsing around Faerûn, you were strutting through the streets of Japan?
Kazuma Kiryu is the protagonist of the first Yakuza game. He is also an empathetic, kind person who was indoctrinated into an awful organization that uses and manipulates people. Kiryu’s quest is about self-betterment and doing what is right. It is about rejecting what you were told and embracing who you are. Kazuma Kiryu’s journeyisShadowheart’s journey. So, if you want to playa different kind of RPG, helmed by a new-look Shadowheart, then I think you could really connect with Yakuza: Kiwami.
While Viconia is in the first two Baldur’s Gate games, I amprimarilytalking about how she is portrayed in the second game here.
Naturally, if you already like Baldur’s Gate 3, then there are a pair of games that you should definitely give a shot: Baldur’s Gate 1 & 2. And don’t worry, if you are a massive Shadowheart fan, there is a character who will be right up your alley: Viconia DeVir. For starters, like Shadowheart, Viconia is secretive, distrusting, and insecure. However, while Shadowheart seems destined to rebuke Shar and follow a more noble path, it is only with patience, kindness, and respect that Viconia will gradually leave her nastier nature behind.
That’s the primary distinction between Viconia and Shadowheart. Ultimately, Shadowheart is a fractured human being, but at her core, there is real kindness. Viconia isn’t lost or confused, while being raised in the Underdark means she was indoctrinated into her twisted belief systems. Even after she abandons her previous faith, she chooses to take up with Shar. As a romance option, Viconia is still deeply satisfying, but it islessabout uncovering who she is, deep down inside, andmoreabout helping her see a better path forward.
If you have never played the first two Baldur’s Gate games, and haveplayed far enough into Baldur’s Gate 3 to meet Viconia, you may be very confused by this choice. Understand that Baldur’s Gate 3 notoriously fumbled her character, turning her into a one-note villain. They may as well be completely different characters.
Chrono Trigger
Chrono Trigger is a legendary RPG from Square, originally launched on the Super Nintendo in 1995. As Chrono, you must band together with a motley crew to travel through time, ultimately battling the alien entity Lavos.
I really want to provide a range of experiences here, not just drop a bunch of WRPGs on your lap. When I was racking my brain for main characters that I thought Shadowheart fans could really get behind, it dawned on me… Chrono Trigger has one of the first super-popular,moody, cool, tragic anti-heroes: Magus!
Now, when it comes to the inner sweetheart aspect of Shadowheart, Magus isn’t agreatfit. He’s sort of a bastard, actually. However, he is a bastard with a tremendously dark backstory, one that has left him scarred, and looking to enact justice in his own unique way. He’s a great character in his own right, and, at the very least, has some of the same vibes as Shadowheart. If only we had been allowed to romance him, I bet Crono could have drawn out his softer side!
So, this one requires a little forewarning, as it is very, very over-the-top schlock. Don’t play this one if you are looking for subtlety. However, the entire cast of characters, top to bottom, is filled with good people who have been wronged, looking to strike back and take control of their own fate.
Velvet, the lead character, is a particularly moody, campy anti-hero. Over the course of the story, all these broken people form an oddball support group of sorts. If you are looking for an entire cast of characters that feel like absurd, anime-inspired, exaggerated versions of Shadowheart (especially the way she is in the first act of the game), this one could just give you what you are looking for. Just don’t go into it expecting much nuance.
Divinity: Original Sin 2
A sequel to the hit party-based RPG from Larian Studios, Divinity: Original Sin 2 is set in the world of Rivellon. Here, you are a Sourcerer, who must take on the savage Divine Order.
If you are not in the know, Baldur’s Gate 3 is the lore sequel to Baldurs Gate 2, and the gameplay follow-up to Divinity Original Sin 2. Which is to say that Divinity Original Sin 2 plays very similarly to Baldur’s Gate 3. However, we’re here specifically for Shadowheart fans, so, let me introduce you to the character Sebille Kaleran.
Sebille Kaleran is a face-eating elf who you can choose to play as, or, you can choose to recruit into your party. While Shadowheart eats fewer faces, she shares a number of other aspects with Sebille. They were both enslaved, manipulated, and taken advantage of in their past. This has left both of them extremely warry, and skewed their perspective of the rest of the world. Sebille is definitely much slower to empathy than Shadowheart, but with time, she comes around. Either way, she’s a fascinating party member who strikes a lot of similar chords.
I see a lot of comparisons between Sebille and Astarion, which I totally get. So, if you likebothAstarion and Shadowheart then this should make Sebille even more compelling to you.
As this list shows, there are a number of companion characters in video games that feel similar in one way shape or form to Shadowheart. However, in my opinion, few are as close as Dragon Age Origin’s Morrigan. They both share a similarly tragic backstory, both having been manipulated, both share a snarky sense of humor, and both have a certain decency and vulnerability buried underneath their trauma.
I suspect that anyone who was drawn to Shadowheart’s story will find themselves similarly invested in Morrigan’s. Don’t get me wrong, they aren’t identical characters, for thing, as in deep as Shadowheart may be, Morrigan is twice as poorly off. It is also worth mentioning that Dragon Age Origins is a little rougher around the edges and shows its age. However, when all is said and done, I can’t think of a better game for Shadowheart fans to delve into than this one.
I feel like some people are going to yell at me for not drawing this comparison with Leliana instead, but while I think the details of their backstories are closer, I still see a lot more Morrigan in Shadowheart than I do Leliana. Though there is definitely room for disagreement here.
